Long Term Effects Of Breastfeeding

Long Term Effects of Breastfeeding 3

For many years mothers have been told that breastfeeding their children is ideal, that it is in the best interest of them as well as their children and will not be regretted. However there is not much insight as to why. Why is breastfeeding so ideal? The main reason for this is the positive effects breastfeeding has in early childhood, even into adult life.. Breast milk “contains many complex proteins, lipids and carbohydrate” (Andreas, N. J., Kampmann, B., & Mehring Le-Doare, K. (2015)) as well as many enzymes, vitamins and more complex nutrients. Formula does not contain near all the nutrients that breast milk does, which is why breastfeeding is more effective at preventing many diseases and illnesses.
G., & Ramey, D. M. (2014)), these components of breast milk aid in preventing many childhood diseases. Even breastfeeding for the first six months or less of a child's life can give a child more immunity to certain severe illnesses and diseases throughout their childhood. These diseases and illnesses can range from anything mild, such as the common cold all the way to something as severe as cancer. Children who were bottle fed in addition to breast milk, or strictly bottle fed, did not develop the same immunity as the children who were strictly breastfed. Breastfed children are also significantly less likely to be “classified as obese, develop asthma and be diagnosed with autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes” (Colen, C. G., & Ramey, D. M. (2014)). The long term effects that breastfeeding has on children's immune systems is truly astounding. This immunity is not simply during the period of nursing, it lasts all the way through adulthood with peaks for certain diseases being seen in early childhood. Many studies also show a lowered risk of SIDS, lowered risk of
Multiple studies show that children who were exclusively breastfed for approximately 6 months “score 4.04 points higher than those who never breastfed” (Horta, B., & Victora, C. (2007).) Many children did show higher thinking, problem solving abilities in addition to strong motor skills. The longer a child was breastfed for the more positive effects are seen regarding their mental health throughout early childhood, even into adolescence. Breastfeeding for six or more months was shown to impact a child's mental health quite significantly whereas children that were breastfed for less than six months did